New York, April 8, 2017
Human Rights Committee
Human Rights Treaties Division
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson
52, rue des Pâquis
CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Re: Supplementary information on Peru, scheduled for review by the Human Rights Committee during its 120th Session.
Distinguished Members of the Human Rights Committee (the “Committee”):
The Center for Reproductive Rights (the “Center”) is an independent international non-governmental organization that works to promote women’s equality by guaranteeing reproductive rights as human rights. The Center for the Promotion and Protection of Sexual and Reproductive Rights (“PROMSEX”) is an independent non-governmental organization headquarter in Lima, Peru, that works to promote sexual and reproductive rights in Peru. The Center and PROMSEX seek to contribute to the Committee’s work by providing independent information concerning Peru’s obligations to guarantee the rights protected under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the “Covenant” or “CCPR”). In light of Peru’s upcoming review by the Committee under the Covenant, this report will highlight Peru’s failure to comply with its obligations under the CCPR to respect, protect and fulfill women’s right to life, to live from free of torture and ill-treatment, to privacy and to equal protection before the law, by (1) criminalizing abortion in cases of sexual violence, and (2) failing to provide access to affordable sexual and reproductive health services, including emergency contraception without discrimination.
We want to thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter.
Respectfully,